Combined hinge and catch



(No Model.)

L. L. FLETCHER. COMBINED HINGE AND GATGH.

Patented Mar. 3,1896

llll UNIT D STATES PATENT FFICE.

LEVI L. PLETGHER, OF MCOONNELSVILLE, OHIO.

COMBINED HINGE AND CATCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 555,583, dated March 3, 1896. Application filed April 15, 1895. Serial No. 545,766. (No model.)

State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Combined 1-Iingeand Catch, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to combined hinges and catches for lids, caps, or plates for coffins, caskets, boxes and similar articles, and the object in View is to provide a new and useful construction of combined hinge and catch and simple and improved means for mounting the parts of the device upon the box or casket.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will appear in the following description, and the novel features thereof will be particularly claim.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a portion of a box or casket with a hinge and a catch constructed in accordance with my invention mounted in the operative position thereon. Fig. 2 is a detail vertical section of the hinge. Fig. 3 is a similar view pointed out in the appended of the catch, showing the parts engaged. Fig.

at is a detail view in perspective of the parts of the hinge disconnected. Fig. 5 is a detail view in perspective of the escutcheon shown in an inverted position. Fig. 6 is a detail vertical section of the escutcheon arranged in position in a socket provided for its reception and a clinching-tool arranged in posit-ion within an escutcheon to force the spurs into engagement with the sides of the socket.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawlngs.

1 designates a bearing-plate forming one member of the hinge, which is let into or countersunk in the under surface of a cover or lid, such as that indicated at 2, said plate having an inclosed cavity 3, in which is mounted the disk-like head 4 of a hook-stud 5, the hook of which is adapted to engage an escutcheon 7 arranged in an opening or socket 8 in the upper edgev of a side of the box 9. Forming part of the hook and extending laterally therefrom is an operating-lever 10, which extends through a suitable openingformed in the edge of the bearing-plate and is exposed to provide for the adjustment of the hook to engage or disengage the opening in the escutcheon.

A keyhole-slot 11 is formed in the upper or outer end of the escutcheon, and integral with 4 this outer end is a flange or shell 12 terminating at diametrically-opposite points in spurs 13 for engagement with the sides of the opening or socket provided for the reception of the escutcheon. Suitable shoulders 14 and 15 are formed in the escutcheon for engagement by the hook, said shoulders being at different distances from the plane of the upper surface of the escutcheon to provide for the use of the device in connection with a lid when provided with a fabric covering or not. It is obvious that when a covering is employed on the box or casket the hook will not extend as far into the escutcheon as when the material forming the box or casket is uncovered, and hence the shoulder which is adjacent to the plane of the upper surface of the escutcheon must be employed.

The opening or socket for the reception of the improved escutcheon being circular is preferably formed by means of an auger of which but one cut is necessary, and after the escutcheon has been fitted in the opening thus formed it is fastened by bending or deflecting the securing-spurs 18 outward to engage the walls or sides of the opening or socket. This bending or deflecting of the securingspurs may be eifected in any suitable way; but in Fig. 5 I have shown a clinching-tool 16 designed especially for this purpose and consisting of a handle 17, a head 18-, and a stem 19, adapted to be inserted through the opening in the upper end of the escutcheon and terminating at its lower end in a projection'20 to bear against and press the spur outward when the outer end of the handle is depressed and struck in the direction of the length of the handle.

It will be seen that the improved escutcheon may be mounted without the aid of chisels or gouges and that when arranged in place the securing devices are not exposed. By this arran gement there is less liability of the escutcheon becoming detached, and at the same time the appearance of the article in connection with which the hinge or catch is employed is improved.

The shoulders in the escutcheon for engagement by the hook are inclined or beveled, as will be seen by reference to the drawings, whereby as the hooks are turned to engage such shoulders the lid is drawn tightly down upon the edge of the box or casket.

From the above description it will be obvious that the hinge is reversible, or, in other words, a box or casket provided with the improved hinge maybe arranged in either of two positions and may be released at either edge to obtain access to the box. This reversibility of the device provides for its use under many conditions where a hinge of the ordinary construction would interfere with the proper operation of the parts.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this i11- vention.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- In acombined hinge and catch, the combination of an escutchcon having a circular shell adapted to fit in a circular opening or socket and terminating at diametrically opposite points in laterally-bent spurs engaging the sides of said opening or socket, said circular shell being provided with diametrically-opposite beveled shoulders which are disposed at different distances from the plane of the upper surface of the cscutcheon, and a bearingpla-te carrying a rotary hook-stud, the hook of which is adapted to be turned into en gagement with either of said shoulders, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

LEVI L. FLETCHER. \Vitnesses:

PERLEY B. DAVIS, AARON R. DEWEES. 

